1 Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  NIV

It strikes me that uncertainty is often a cause for worry, so this morning, I looked up “uncertainty” in my concordance.

It isn’t listed.

There is one listing for “uncertain,” and this verse contains that word.

I could spend some time thinking about why uncertainty is only thinly addressed in God’s word, but, not today.  My initial thinking is that the Bible is all about things that are CERTAIN … really the opposite of uncertainty.  And, when you can fully define something as the Bible so beautifully does, you don’t need antonyms to make your point.

What strikes me about this verse is Paul’s admonishment about where to put our trust, our hope.  We cannot put our trust in wealth or in any of the things of this world.  Things that we think are absolute certainties often turn out not to be.  Planes, which are supposed to fly, get grounded due to volcanic ash; people’s houses, which are supposedly built on firm foundations, topple over in tornadoes; oil that is supposed to go nicely and neatly into a tanker and off to a refinery ends up in the ocean; and the ocean, which is supposed to stay put, roils up in tsunamis and wipe out villages and cities and people’s lives.

My hope must be in God alone.  He alone holds the future.  He alone is absolute certainty.

But, I love that the verse goes beyond that thought.  Paul ends with “God, who richly provides us with everything with our enjoyment.”  While there is no certainty here and nothing to trust, God has provided amazing earthly wonders to behold.  Peacocks, and roses, and sunsets, and families, and friendships and coffee.

So, today, I will waste no time worrying over the uncertainty of my future or the future of this world.  I will follow the instructions of this verse as translated in The Message.  I will “go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage.” MSG